Sausage-linking machine



July 17, 1934.

P. A, JAcoBsoN I 1,966,552

SAUSAGE LINKING MACHINE Filed Jan. 29, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l jg 6 2 211795 17V/9.4

Julyl7, 1934. P. AI'JACOBSQN 1,966,552

SAUSAGE LINKING MACHINE Filed Jan. 29, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 vZSVIIW 7 -57 202225 .57 .5720 2225 D a o /Z C z/ /Z 4 Patented July 17, 1934 fuNirEo PATEN sansAGE-LKNKING MAcnrNE Parker A. Jacobson, Winona, Minn. Ansmann manca 1932, semi No. 589.622

f is claims.v (el. 17.-34)

.Mypresent. invention, relates to a sausagelink ing. machine ofthe typewdisciosled'l and-L broadly: claimed: in my copending application-of' the samev title-,filed dune 13, 1930. under Serial-f'Number'. dfr, which is. now Patent. Number-1,901,452', datediMarch 14, 1933, and' hasfor its objectfthe. provision of certain irriprovemcntsor reiinernei'itsy in the.r operation thereof as will pear "To the above end, theinvention consists of the novel devices and combinationsof devices hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

` :Inthe accompanying the invention,V like characters indicate like parts# thronghoutthe several views.

Referring to the drawings:r "Fig, 1 is a. fragmentary side-elevation ofthe improvedsausageA-twisting machine; Fig. 2H is aview in transverse vertical section` taken on the line`2-'2v of Fig. 1, with some parts removed and other. .parts shown indiierentposi v tions by means of brokenllines;' i

' Fig. 3 is a viewrpartly in elevation and partly in' vertical section takenon the line ila-3v of Fig. 1; iFig.-4 is -a fragmentary detail view with some parts sectionedvon the iline 4`4 oi ig.Y I; l Fig.' 5- is a' detail view with somey parts sectioned on the line 5-5 of Ilig. 1;

Fig.- 6 is'a'f-ragmentary detail'view principally 301m section takenA on the lino 6'-6. 'of Fig. 21bnan I en-largedlscale; Y v Y Figi is a detail view with some parts vsectioned onfthe line}'1.'7 of Fig.- l; i 1

Fig. 8 is a View partly in elevation inrtransver'sesection ytaken on the line 8-1-8of Fig; '1, some parts being shown indifferent positionsby meansof broken lines;

flig. 9' is a fragmentary perspective view of the brake `and also fragmentarily,illustrating by means of broken'lines two connectedv sausage Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective View of one of the twisting belts; and

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary side elevationvof the part, into links. Y

Of the parts ofthe frame ofthe improved machinefragmentarily illustrated it is important to note the Vend members 8, the pair of longitudinal side bars 9 and the bearing head 10.V A laterallyspaced rockfsjh-afts 11, in the form of fiat bars set' vertically edgewise parallel to said side bars', have 'on theirr ends seats in thev vbearinghead I10.

6.5L "The machine may include two or any desired hereinafter apdrawings, which illustrater L shown, connect machine in which is a. sausage casing formed, inl

pair of trunnions journaled' iny num'oenofi units-,p dependingy on the number of. links to be simultaneously'twisted, and each. unit, only one of which is illustrated, includes spacersv and squeezersv 12, for displacingV the filler ln a sausage casing` at form links. The unit further: includes twisting belts 13, for twistingv alternate links one' at atime in opposite directions, and supports14 for holding intervening links or the. links between adjacent units,Y one ata time, 'to prevent the same from being. turned by the twisting of the adjacent links. The; spacers and squeezers` are carried by a pair of parallel flat-bars 15 which extendparallel `to the side bars 9 and their end portions, only one of which is` shown,` project downwardly .and out.- wardlyand are pivcted at; ltothe' bearing head 1u forirocking movement` toward and from each other..

The link supports 14fare in the form of iiat barsV which extendv transversely'of the machine and have one. of theirends rigidly secured `to one of the bars 15 and their other ends are bent laterally downward to form stops 1'7 arranged to engage the other bar 15 to limit thev approaching Vmovement ofthe bars 151, and: hence. ofl the cooperatf ing members ofthe spacers and squeezers 12. A pair of coiled springs 18,

.thel two bars 15 andare' under strain, tovdraw the' same toward' each otherand normally hold saidfbars positionedby the link supports 14."

`r `The tension Vof the"springs'18is1suflicient to r draw the cooperating members of the spacers and andA partly-A` Figs. 1 and '7`). Cmebeltf 13 of each pai-r runs over a lower driven pulley 19 and an idle upper pulley r'20 and said lower pulley has on its ends trunnions journaled ina pair of laterally spaced upright arms'21 and Said upper pulley is vloose on axed shaft 22v mounted on a pair of screw posts 23 whichform extensions of the arms 21.v The twopairs of arms 21 are mounted, one 'pair on each 4rock-shaftll, andthei-r' lower ends are bifurcated to receive' said shafts and support the arms 21 with freedom for sliding movement lone gitudinally thereon. Thumb-screws 24 rigidly hold the arms shafts 11. The upper end portions posts 23 extend into bores in the 'ofthe' arms r'21 and have longitudinally spaced points to,

onlyone of which is y meshes with a pair of screw-threaded engagement posts 23 at their upper end through radial holes in the end shaft 22 and hold said shaft with freedom for movement said posts.

Coiled springs 25 encircling the posts 23 rest on abutments 26 on said posts and yieldingly support the shaft 22, and hence the upper roller 20, for bodily movement parallel to the axis of the lower roller 19 or for angular movement in respect thereto. The posts 23 have in their upper ends nicks for a screw driver by which said posts may be turned to screw the same into or out of the arms 21 to vary the operative length thereof and thereby act as tighteners for the belts 13. Formed in the pulleys 19 and 20 are peripheral grooves 27 and 28, respectively, for the belts 13 to hold the same against edgewise movement on said pulleys and in staggered arrangement. The arms 21 of each pair are rigidly connected `by upper and lower cross-tie rods 29.

A pair of intermeshing segmental gears 30 connect the rock-shaftsll for common rotary movement to open and close the opposing pairs of arms 21 at the same speed and in predetermined relation. The rock-shafts 11 extend through 4seats in the hubs of the gears 30 and hold said gears from turning about the axes of the rock-shafts l1 but with freedom for longitudinal sliding movement thereon. Set-screws 3l hold the hubs of the gears 30 where adjusted on the rock-shafts 11. Upstanding posts 32 intherewith. Said portions extend portions of the from turning but longitudinally on tegral with the hubs of the gears 30 are connected by a coiled spring 33 under strain to turn the shafts l1 and close the belts 13 onto a sausage casing therebetween. One end of the spring 33 is attached .to one of the posts 32'by a thumbnut-equipped eyebolt 34 by `which said spring may be tensioned. Positive stops 35 on the ops posing edges of the arms 21 limit the approachi ing movement of said arms.

An adjustable stop 36 is also provided for limiting the approaching movement of the arms 21 for casings of diiferent diameters. This stop is, as shown, a long thumb-screw having threaded engagement with one of the, arms 21 of the two pairs and arranged to impinge against the Opposite armof the other pair.

A pair of guide rolls 37 is provided for the belts 13 ofeach unit and are journaled, vone on pair of arms 21, and over which the inner or operative The two guide rolls 37 are in opposing relation, and all four of the belts 13 as they run thereover are substantially edgewise aligned, see Fig. 5,'with the opposing runs of rsaid belt in diverging relation therefrom. Obviously, the'diverging sections of the belts 13 above the guide rolls 37 form a notch to receive and hold a casing to be twisted. v

The lower pulleys 19 are driven by a pair of square shafts 38 which extend through corre- The shafts 38 are driven in reverse directions from a shaft 39 having a large gear 40 which meshes with a small idle gear 41 which, in turn,

runs of the respective belts 13 run.`

gears 42, one onA each ofv the shafts 38. The shaft 39 extends parallel to the side bars 9 midway therebetween, is journaled 1n the bearing head 10 and driven by an motor, not shown, and the idle gear 41 is journaled on said bearing head.

The cooperating members of the spacers and squeezers 12 are positively opened by the arms 21 which will be noted that the arms 2l have a limited independent opening movement before they engage the abutments 43 to open the spacers and squeez- The clearance between the arms 21 and the abutments 43 permits slight opening and closing movements of the belts 13 during the twisting of a casing without moving the spacers and squeezers 12. Furthermore, these independent opening and closing movements of the belts 13. .permit the spacers and plete their operation on a casing prior to the time in which the belts 13 start their turning actionof thev casing. One of the rock-shafts 11 is positivelyoperated, and at the same time operates kthe other rock-shaft through theconnect-l ed gears 30 to open the belts 13 and thespacers and squeezers l2, by either one of a pair of axially spaced fixed cams 45 and 45 on the shaft 39 and a cooperating cam roller 46 journaled on a crank-arm 47 on the rst noted rock-shaft 11. The crank-arm 47 is adjustable longitudinally on the respective rock-shafts 11 and rigidly secured thereto by a pair of thumb-screws 48 to position the cam roller 48 over either one of the cams 45 and 45 to be operated thereby. s Y

-A pointer 49 on the crank-arm 47 and cooperating graduations 50 on the respective rock-shaft 11 are provided for positioning the cam roller 46 over either one of the cams 45. The two camsl 45 are designed for holding the belts 13 open for different periods of time during each cycle of said cams'so` thatcasings of diiferent sizes will be twisted the "samernumber of times. Obviously it will take a longer period of time to twist a casing of a large diameter than a casing of a small di-` ameter hence, when twisting relativelyV small cason the casing. Y

The belts 13, in their preferred form, have on their opposing faces cleats 51 which extend transversely of said belts and are spaced longitu-Y dinally thereof. These cleats 51 1n the form of wide one-way ratchet teeth. The

staggered, in that they do not engage a casing on opposite sides; andvhence, do not produce a squeezing action that would tend to burst the casing. These edge-wise tion ofits length and supports the same for turnspaced belts 13 also engage a link of sausage for aconsiderable pormovement. without undue pressure. @bviousj-r lythze: springsl 25lwill permit theupper .puisl'eys20 tuyi'edf and.` thereby prevent the belts'.:13': from apak pylrrg tooy much pressure to a. casing..

-B Ther. machine illustrated in Fig..11consists.of two.. units fand" will form four links; at a, time. harming.v1 these links. the links. B and..D` areA twisted.: in` reverse directions byA the-.belts 13g the; link C, between the-two links B and D. that. ame'f being.' twisted, isfhelfd from' twisting.. or. turning by; the support I4; on. which itrests and thelinkr A is held from turning by the. adjacentspaoenanm squeezer.and a gauge. member' asfwillihereinafte'nappear.. At the front end; ofsthemaehine. isiahood or cover 5121er certain off:` the movable parts of the machiney andithasa downwardly ini'.- eliiriett` deck.. 53'.: over whichthe formed'ln-ks slide: ontdatabl'e orother support, not shown.. d

@n3 the'cover 52 is agaugemembene. that die-- termines the length of tl'ie-` link w-hi'c-l'iacorre-v spondsftof-thatfof the'links B, C andD'formed by ther spaoersland.A squeezers.. In feeding thecasing G through the machine the operator.' grasps the link'y Cin? one hand, holds the casing` G in. the

.-` other.' hand, so thatf it isfree to slide therethrough, then. lifts the casing'. and. link. to clear theopen spacersv and squeezers 12 and twisting belts I3`1a'nd1m0vesrthe same vendwise` until the twisted' end ois the casing G' is at the gauge 54 and then;

Si lowers the casing G onto said squeezers and belts` betere they aref closed-thereon to form thev nextl groupeof four links.

*During this feeding ofthe casing: G through the! machine there is a tendency for the links just". formed to untwist before they are placedonithe deck 53 and at which time they are in angular relation-toeach otherrwhichzholds the same from untwisting. The grip the operator has on the link C and casing G prevents said casing and link from untwisting'and the link D is held by said link C and casing G from untwisting. d

To prevent the link B from untwistingan automatic brake55 is provided and timed so that the same is released during the formation of the 'z'.ilinks and set at the completion of the twisting thereof and during the opening movements' of the spacers and belts. This brake 55 includes an offset fork 56 on the upper end of an upright rod 57 mounted in a pair of vertically spaced -jgbearings 58 on the upper end portion of an upright arm 59. Said arm 59 has on its lower end a cross-tie member 60 rigidly held by the side bars 9 which extend through hubs on the ends of said member. The driven shaft 39 extends through 5gg-a hub on the arm 59 and the cross-tie member A compression spring 61 encircling the brake rod 5'? is compressed between the upper bearingsl 58 and a collar 62 on said rod between the two 1-bearings 58. The spring 61A is under strain to retract or move the fork 56 downward and the engagement of the collar 62 with the lower bearing 58 limits this movement of the fork 56.

To set the brake 55 there is provided a cam 63 on the driven shaft 39 and operative on the lower end of the rod 5'7 once during each rotation of said shaft to lift the same and cause the fork 56 to engage the outer end portion of the link Band lift the same so that said link is supported .'in the crotch of said fork.

The frictional contact between vthe fork and link B will hold said link from untwisting. At the time the operator lifts the formed links and thecasing G from the machine said links are' wijjmoved, as previously stated, by the operator'nto valigned edgewise where they pass over said rolls.

angular positions with respectft other. whichY holdss thea-samer; untwist'me; ands henceebyl, the the: link B islitted from the the; brake.' willi have? servediitsl purpose... BM thettm'e the casingi.G.is.pl`acedl between'. the: -1 twisting; belts. andi for' the next; openwtion to form other: links: the 63 wilt me: moved a position tore'lease thesmmpxressed springer andallowthersametoiretracttw softhat theisameis'. entirelyoutl othe way the twisting ofthenext grouniof; links;` i. Whatrlclaim; "i Y 1i.Y In: ai. sausageA linking .machina aapainfot rock-sham, azpainot upright. arms on: thef'roeie-l shafts, aloweripnlley and an. upper pulley-1j01:112--1r naled:A on'. each .pair otarm'sg: af twlstingbelrti are ranged .toi run: over each: pair. of; pulleys; the: being. edgewise spaced-the? the other;I and.y a-.of guide ol'lsjhumaledontlse and: over! op sing.- sectons. of.: belts runsy and are held. therebypressed.v towardIt each. other and' substantiallye'dge'wise.-V aligne@ where they oven said; rolls.y f

- 2.11mA a: sausage linking?y machina.. meansttbr forming a ruledH casing. inte` unirsi. cooperating: 10.0

membersior tv vistlngl the linksJtimed means.- operating .thelinkAormingfmeans andthe twistA` ings rx'ren'sibers;vv and" an automatic brake acti-:ated4 by' thek tlmedi means for. preventing one ofi.' ther links` from. untwisting when the 'twisting 105 1s voperatedlto release thel'formedllinks, said brake. being theiorm ot a-vertically movable feriti arrangedv` to engageA said' link' andirliftivv the` whensaidbrakefis operated" toholdjv the linie.VK

32 In a.' sausage; linking' machine having flpiir 110 oil twisting belts rin. opposing?re'axtion and spaced? edgewise for aetionzonfoppositesides o! a sausage* link at longitudinally spaced points, whereby the sausage link is unsupported on the opposite side from each belt. H5

4. In a sausage linking machine having three twisting belts, one of which is in opposing rela-y tion to the other two, said three belts being'in staggered relation and spaced edgewise for action on opposite sides of a sausage link at longitudinally spaced points, whereby the sausage link is unsupported on the Aopposite side from each belt.

5. In a sausage linking machine having four twisting belts, two of whichv are in opposing relation to the other two, said four belts being Vstaggered andr spaced edgewise for action on opposite sides of a sausage link at longitudinally spaced points, whereby the sausage link is unsupported onthe side opposite each belt.

6. The structure defined in claim 5 which further includes guideV rolls over which the opposing sections of the belt run and are held thereby pressed toward each other` and substantially 7. In a sausage linking machine, apair of rock-shafts, upright arms on the rock-"shafts, a pair of cooperating twisting belts mounted on the arms for opening and closing movements under the action of the rock-shafts, yielding means normallyholding the rock-shafts in a position in which the belts are closed, positive means for operating the rock-shafts to open the belts, a pair of cooperating spacers and squeezers mounted for opening and closing movements, 1,45

rother yielding means normally holding the spacers and squeezers closed with freedom for opening movement with respect to the opening movement of the belts, said arms being constructed and arranged to open the spacers and squeezers A. when'operated to open the twisting belts and to 15 les control .the closingmovement of the spacers and squeezers by the respective yielding means.

8. The structure defined in claim '7 which fur-Y ther includes adjustable stop means for limiting the movement of the arms to close the belts and other stop means for limiting the closing movement of the spacers and squeezers.

9. The structure defined in claim 7 which further includes adjustable means, operable at Will, to vary the initial opening movement of the spacers and squeezers by the arms. f

10. In a sausage linking machine, two pairs of spacers and squeezers and a pair of cooperating twisting belts between the two pairs of spacers andv squeezers, means for operating the belts, means forintermittently openingV and lclosing the spacers and squeezers, means for intermittently opening and closing the belts in timed.v relation tothe opening and closing of the spacers and squeezers, and means adjustable, vat will, to vary the number of times a link of sausage is twisted by the belts during the periodici time the spacers and squeezers are held closed on a sausage casing.

11. In a sausage linking machine, two pairs of spacers and squeezers and a pair of cooperating twisting belts between the two pairs of spacers and squeezers, means for operating the belts, means for intermittently7 opening vand closing the spacers and squeezers, means for intermittently opening and closing the belts in timed relation to the opening and closing of the spacers and squeezers, and cam means adjustable, at will, to vary the'period of time the belts are held closed with respect to the period of time the spacers and jsqueezers are held closed and thereby vary the number of times A,a link of sausage is twisted by the belts during the period of time the spacers and ooi:

squeezers are held closed on the sausage casing.' 12. In a sausage linking machine, means for forming a .filled casing into links, cooperating members for twisting the links, a reciprocatory brake arranged, when projected, to lift one of the links to prevent the same from untwisting when the twisting means is operated to release the formed links, and means for reciprocating the brake.V 13. The structure dened in claim 12in which the brake is yieldingly held with respect toitsA reciprocating means. Y 1 v14. The structure dened in claim 3 in which said belts have on their faces transverse cleats thatV are spaced longitudinally of the belts, vsaid cleats being in the form of one-way ratchet: teeth, said structure further including means for driving the belts in the same direction, whereby` the upwardly moving cleats on the operative faces of one of the belts will tend to lift thel link and the downwardly moving cleats on the operative faces of the other belt tend to move the link downwardly. v

15. In a sausage linking machine, a pair of substantially parallel rockeshafts, a pair of up-v right arms on each rock-shaft, a lov/er pulley andan upper pulley journaled on each pair, of arms, a pair of edgewise spaced twisting belts arranged to run over the two pulleys on each pair or" arms, and yielding means supporting one of the pulleys on each pair of arms for bodily movement toward the other pulley thereon and for a limited tilting movement at either end in aplane extending between the axes about which the respective pulleys turn.

PARKER A. JACoBsoN.v 

